The networking event was first known as "speed dating for geeks" because start-ups could give three-minute pitches about their idea in hopes of finding business partners, landing customers or even securing a bit of funding.

Now many of those geeks are running full-fledged businesses, even if they aren't yet profitable. Some, like GeniusRocket, a Bethesda-based "crowdsourcing" marketing firm, and DubMeNow, a McLean-based start-up hoping to help people exchange digital business cards via smartphones, have become familiar names in the local technology scene. The entrepreneurs behind those companies now help make connections and recommendations for other, younger start-ups at the meet-ups.

"I'd say the event is now more like 'state of the start-ups,' " said Juliana Neelbauer, who hosts the event with her husband, Robert. The couple runs technology recruiting firm Staffmagnet in Dupont Circle.

Thirteen start-ups -- more were scheduled but a few didn't show up -- gave quick spiels about their businesses last Thursday evening. Some even said they were hiring.

One is Mingle 360, a company that has created a device allowing people to exchange electronic business cards. Mingle 360 provided free "mingle sticks" to attendees, who wore them around their necks. To exchange contact information with a new acquaintance, they pointed the sticks, which resembled large thumb drives, toward each other and clicked a small button. Both sticks glow with a small green light to indicate information has been shared and can be downloaded into an address book.

A few of the other firms in attendance have recently launched Web sites that they hope will thrive in a down economy. Ben Hattan co-founded LegalRiver.com, a site where small and mid-size businesses can solicit, review and compare lawyers and legal services.

"These days lawyers are willing to do anything" to find clients, he said. "And all small businesses have trouble finding lawyers."

Kit Cody, who until recently ran online operations at AARP, founded Trustys.com, a local directory where people can find services such as plumbers or landscapers based on reputation, price and location. Natalie Hopkins started SameDayDr.com, which lets patients make appointments over the weekend or the same day they need treatment. "I think the health-care industry is very eager to use us at a time like this," she said.

Greg Bardwell, founder of Innovative Query, a software technology that sorts disorganized data, sees his company finding business in the public sector rather than with consumers.

"All roads seem to lead to the government," he said. "The government's got a huge data problem."

Some were looking for potential employers. Carl Leonard works as a contractor at the National Institutes of Health and builds robots as a hobby. If enough funding becomes available, he'll be able to expand his job at NIH.